First Year Learning Contract

The Learning Contract helps facilitate the University Honors Program goal of helping to create well-rounded students. The Learning Contract enhances students’ educational experience and requires students to take advantage of educational and personal resources.

The University Honors Program has designed six learning modules as part of the first year Learning Contract. These modules are designed to enhance students’ in-classroom learning by introducing students to additional resources and opportunities for academic and personal development.

The modules include:

• Honors Core
• Academic Success
• Educational Enrichment
• Diversity and Social Justice
• Career Development
• Speaker Series

The modules provide opportunities to increase communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Each quarter students are asked to complete requirements in the Honors Core as well as requirements in additional modules. Students must submit a reflection paper for each module workshop they attend.

Learning Contracts for Each Quarter

Fill out the Fall 2007 Learning Contract (deadline passed)
You need your Student ID and NetID (Webmail/iLearn username) to access the Learning Contract.

The Winter 2008 Learning Contract is available on UHP Student Web with the other electronic forms.
Visit UHP Student Web.

Learning Contract Forms

Module Workshop, Community Service, and Personal Growth Forms - Now Online!
You need your Student ID and NetID (Webmail/iLearn username) to access these forms.

Year at a Glance

Fall Quarter

1. HONORS CORE

A. Courses:
HNPG 009: first-year workshop. Students must receive a B or better in the course.

In addition, students must complete at least four Honors courses (16 units) within the first two years. At least two of these courses (8 units) must be seminar courses. Students must receive a B or above in all Honors courses. (see Lower Division Requirements)

B. Meetings
Attend 3 Meetings with your Peer Mentor
Attend 3 Group Meetings with Lower Division Coordinator
Attend 1 Meeting with your Academic Advisor

C. Community Service and Personal Growth
Complete 10 hours of Community Service
Complete 10 hours of Personal Growth Activity

D. Muffin Morning
Attend 3 Muffin Mornings

E. Workshop
Attend 1 Honors Core Workshop

2. MODULE WORKSHOPS

Complete 1 workshop in the Academic Success module
Complete 1 workshop in the Diversity/Social Justice module

Winter Quarter

1. HONORS CORE

A. Courses:
Earn an “S” grade in HNPG 10A
Enroll in a UHP seminar or section if you did not enroll in an Honors course fall quarter.

Students must complete at least four Honors courses (16 units) within the first two years. At least two of these courses (8 units) must be seminar courses. Students must receive a B or above in all Honors courses. (see Lower Division Requirements)

B. Meetings:
Attend 2 Meetings with your Peer Mentor
Attend 2 Group Meetings with Lower Division Coordinator

C. Community Service and Personal Growth:
Complete 10 hours of Community Service
Complete 10 hours of Personal Growth Activity

D. Muffin Mornings:
Attend 3 Muffin Mornings

E. Workshop:
Attend 1 Honors Core Workshop

2. MODULE WORKSHOPS

Complete 1 workshop in the Speaker Series module

Spring Quarter

1. HONORS CORE

A. Courses:
Earn an “S” grade in HNPG 10B
Enroll in a UHP seminar or section if you did not enroll in an Honors course winter quarter.

Students must complete at least four Honors courses (16 units) within the first two years. At least two of these courses (8 units) must be seminar courses. Students must receive a B or above in all Honors courses. (see Lower Division Requirements)

B. Meetings:
Attend 2 Meetings with your Peer Mentor
Attend 1 Group Meeting with Lower Division Coordinator

C. Community Service and Personal Growth:
Complete 10 hours of Community Service
Complete 10 hours of Personal Growth Activity

D. Muffin Mornings:
Attend 3 Muffin Mornings

E. Workshop:
Attend 1 Honors Core Workshop

2. MODULE WORKSHOPS

Complete 1 workshop in the Educational Enrichment module
Complete 1 workshop in the Career Development module

Learning Contract Modules

Honors Core Workshop

Workshops will help students develop life skills transferable to future endeavors. They are designed to explore issues students often face as first year students, including time management, relationships, peer pressure, alcohol, drugs, sexual relationships, roommate issues, family issues, diversity, study skills, money management, wellness, and living a healthy lifestyle.

Workshops will be available for students through programs coordinated by Honors staff and Peer Mentors, Honors residence hall RAs, and student affairs departments on campus.

Reflection paper required after completing the workshop.

How do I find Honors Core workshops?
Workshop opportunities will be advertised through emails, iLearn, and Peer Mentors. Students should check emails and iLearn regularly for updates and schedules.

Examples include Peer Mentor-led workshops on peer pressure, dialogues about safe sex offered in the Honors residence halls by RAs, presentations on personal wellness by Golden Arches peer health educators, and alcohol-awareness events sponsored by REACH.

Academic Success

Workshops are designed to help students develop effective study skills to become successful learners. Students are encouraged to take advantage of study skills workshops offered by the Learning Center. Topics include how to read analytically, recognizing what is important in lectures, strategies for improving concentration, engaging in meaningful participation in classes, core writing skills, effective communication, exam prep and test taking, goal setting, effective note taking, stress management, time management, and speed reading.

Reflection paper required after completing the workshop.

How do I find Academic Success workshops?
A list and schedule of Study Skills Workshops offered by the Learning Center is available on the Learning Center website: http://www.learningcenter.ucr.edu/smart/skills/skills.html

Workshops are 50 minutes and do not require advanced sign ups. Topics are rotated weekly, so check the website for a complete schedule.

Speed reading courses are also available. For more information go to: http://www.learningcenter.ucr.edu/schedule.html#speed

Additional resources and workshops are available through the Rivera Library, College Advising Offices, and the Honors staff. These opportunities will be advertised via email from the Honors staff.

Diversity and Social Justice

Workshops are designed to introduce students to the areas of diversity and multiculturalism that will impact them as citizens in a global community. Topics include race, ethnicity, religion and spirituality, gender, ability, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Programs are offered by a variety of offices and individuals on campus including Honors staff, faculty, and faculty-in-residence; programs offered in the Honors residence halls by RAs; African Student Programs; Asian Pacific Student Programs; Chicano Student Programs; Native American Student Programs; the Women’s Resource Center; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center; and REACH.

Reflection paper required after completing the workshop.

How do I find Diversity and Social Justice workshops?
Workshop opportunities will be advertised through emails, iLearn, and Peer Mentors. Students should check emails and iLearn regularly for updates and schedules.

Educational Enrichment

Workshops are designed to introduce students to experiential learning opportunities that combine course work, field research, and work experience. Examples include informational sessions for Education Abroad Programs, UCDC (Washington Center Internship Program), UC Sacramento (University of California Center Sacramento (UCCS) Scholar Intern Program), and other internship programs.

The Educational Enrichment workshop requirement can be waived for students enrolled in a Freshman Discovery Seminar (HASS 092, NASC 092, ENGR 092), CHASS Connect, CNAS Scholars, or other formal UCR learning community programs.

Reflection paper required after completing the workshop.

How do I find Educational Enrichment workshops?
Workshop opportunities will be advertised through emails, iLearn, and Peer Mentors. Students should check emails and iLearn regularly for updates and schedules.

Career Development

Workshops are designed to provide students with information and skills to create and achieve long-term career goals. Students are encouraged to utilize services offered by the Career Center. Workshop examples include Academic Internship orientations, choosing and changing your major, job search strategies, interview skills, and resume writing.

Reflection paper required after completing the workshop.

How do I find Career Development workshops?
A list and schedule of workshops offered by the Career Center is available on the Career Center website: http://careers.ucr.edu/

Additional workshop opportunities will be advertised through emails, iLearn, and Peer Mentors.

Students who plan to pursue graduate education in the health professions are encouraged to attend Health Professions Advising workshops, including interview skills, professional school application workshops, writing personal statements, and health career options.

A schedule of Health Professions Advising workshops is available on the Health Professions website.

Speaker Series

Speaker Series are designed to introduce students to innovative faculty and their research. Lectures, colloquia, and enrichments sponsored by University faculty and academic departments fulfill Speaker Series requirements. Examples include an Environmental Studies professor discussing the effects of global warming, or a peace activist giving a lecture on her/his reflections on war, or a Physics professor discussing his/her current research.

Attending an additional HNPG 10A or 10B lecture can be used to satisfy this requirement.

Find on-campus speaker series here.

Reflection paper required after completing the workshop.

How do I find Speaker Series workshops?
Although UHP will notify you of upcoming speakers and events on campus when we know about them, there will be numerous opportunities available beyond these announcements. The best way to find speakers is to go to the UCR website and search the Campus Events link. You can search by type of event and look specifically for lectures, enrichments, and conferences. You can also go to individual academic department websites and look for an upcoming speaker or colloquium. Chemistry and Philosophy are two such examples.

Learning Contract Modules FAQs

Q: How do I find workshops to attend?

A: Workshop opportunities will be advertised through emails, iLearn, and Peer Mentors. Students should check emails and iLearn regularly for updates and schedules. Students should also refer to the information listed for each module.

Q: How do I know what counts as a workshop?

A: Workshops coordinated and sponsored by University Honors staff and Peer Mentors will fulfill the Learning Contract workshop requirement. These workshops will be clearly identified and advertised as meeting the requirement.

Students who wish to utilize other workshops to fulfill the requirements must receive permission from Lower Division Coordinator.

Q: How do I get credit for attending a workshop?

A: Students must sign in at workshops and fill out a Module Workshop Verification form. Students should also record their workshops on their Learning Contracts.

Q: Can I attend more workshops than are required?

A: Students are encouraged to multiple workshops for their own personal knowledge and development. Additional workshops beyond what is required for the Learning Contract can be used towards Personal Growth hours. However, students cannot “bank” their workshops and credit for workshops will not carry over from quarter to quarter.

Reflection Paper FAQs

Q: What do I write about in the reflection paper and what are the writing requirements?

A: The paper should be one full page, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font, with one-inch margins. You should discuss which workshop you attended, when and where, and a brief summary of the topic. The majority of the paper should be your reflections on the workshop and what you learned. You should include how the information impacted you, how you might incorporate the information into your life or career, why you chose to attend this particular workshop, and any further questions you have about the topic you wish to explore more in-depth. The goal of the paper is to have you reflect on the workshop and what you gained from attending.

Q: Who do I turn my paper in to and how?

A: You should turn in your workshop reflection papers to Lower Division Coordinator via the Digital Drop Box on iLearn. To access the Digital Drop Box, log on to iLearn and click on your HNPG 009 course link. Go to "Students Tools" and click on the "Student Drop Box" icon. Under "Send Files" click on "Browse" to upload and attach the document from your disk or hard drive. (This is similar to attaching a document in an email). Click on "Open" to attach your document. Then click "Send File to Instructor." Do not click on "Add Files” as this will not send the file.

Q: When are reflection papers due?

A: You are encouraged to write and submit papers within a week of attending a speaker to ensure you remember the information and can reflect accurately on your experience. However, all papers are due by  Friday of the 9th week of the quarter. You must submit all workshop reflection papers to Lower Division Coordinator via the Digital Drop Box on iLearn by the end of the 9th week of the quarter.

If you have any questions about the Learning Contract workshop requirements, please talk with your Peer Mentor or contact the Lower Division Coordinator.